NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell tears up in final public appearance as top cop
An emotional Keechant Sewell wiped away tears away during her final public appearance as New York City’s police commissioner while being lauded during an NYPD ceremony — with the mayor notably not in attendance.
Sewell received cheers Friday morning with from hundreds of cops during a promotion ceremony at the NYPD police academy, which grew so loud they were interrupted multiple times by standing ovations.
“I ask you to lead and serve with integrity, courage, and compassion,” Sewell, who is set to depart the NYPD after 18 months on the job, told the new cops.
“I will be watching.”
City Hall officials heaped praise on the outgoing cop, but absent from the stage during Sewell’s final day as police commissioner were Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks.
Sewell shocked the mayor when she abruptly put in her resignation just over two weeks ago as tension between the commissioner and City Hall reached a breaking point, The Post previously revealed.
A spokesman for the mayor said he did not attend because of a private engagement.
The commissioner — who is the first black female leader of the NYPD –started tearing up while the department screened a video highlighting her role in the reduction of gun violence and subway crime over her tenure.
The nearly three-minute video included clips from her public appearances and press clips — including from The Post — reporting on her achievements.
Despite some successes with violence in the Big Apple, overall crime, including felony assault and car theft, jumped in the early months of 2022 and has shown few signs of slowing.
“She broke the glass ceiling, she paved the way for young girls, who know that anything is possible and we wanted to let her know that we love her,” Deputy Mayor Ingrid Lewis-Martin said.
“She came to New York City from Long Island and she did something,” Lewis-Martin said. “She has been the face of NYPD for 18 months. We thank you. No one could have done a better job.”
Lewis-Martin, along with four other female deputy mayors, handed Sewell a bouquet of flowers and hugged her.
As has been common during her time as commissioner, Sewell walked off stage and did not talk to the press.
Notably absent from the stage during Sewell’s final day as police commissioner were Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Philip Banks.
Sewell shocked the mayor when she abruptly put in her resignation just over two weeks ago as tension between the commissioner and City Hall reached a breaking point, The Post previously revealed.
A spokesman for the mayor said he did not attend because of a private engagement.
The soon-to-be acting Police Commissioner and rumored front-runner for the top spot, Edward Caban, told reporters after the ceremony that he wishes Sewell well.
“I want to thank her for her partnership, her mentorship, her leadership, for everything she did on behalf of all the men and women of the NYPD, everything she did on behalf of the citizens of the city of New York,” Caban said.
“I am honored to have served underneath her for 18 months.”
Additional reporting by Bernadette Hogan
